Pickens County tentatively sets 2025 millage rate at 11.34 mills

Pickens County officials tentatively approved a 2025 millage rate of 11.34 mills after staff presented the county's 2025 tax digest and the rollback calculation.

Assistant Finance Director Amanda Brooks summarized the 2025 digest and exemptions, saying the county's gross digest rose by $510,000,000, a 20.88% increase, and exemptions increased by $184,600,000, or 126.66%. Brooks said the growth in the 2025 net digest was $325,000,000, a 15.92% increase, and that the calculated rollback rate for 2025 is 11.344; staff recommended a millage rate of 11.34, a reduction of 0.86 mills.

Brooks attributed much of the increase in exemptions to recent state legislation, which she identified as House Bill 581, and walked through form PT-32.1 and the mechanics used to calculate the rollback rate. "Our rollback rate for 2025 is 11.344. And then so our recommended 2025 millage rate is 11.34," Brooks said.

Following the presentation, a motion to approve the tentative 2025 millage rate at 11.34 mills was made and seconded; the motion passed with five votes in favor. The meeting record does not specify which members moved or seconded the motion. A separate procedural motion to approve the meeting agenda also passed.

Brooks said staff will run the required legal ad in the newspaper this week and return to set a final millage rate and meeting date. She identified September 25 as the date the ad will run. No further policy action was taken at the meeting.

The meeting included brief discussion comparing Pickens County's digest with neighboring counties; one participant asked to receive the full slide file used in the presentation.

The county did not provide additional budget detail, a full vote roll call by name, or a final effective date for the 2025 millage at the meeting.